About this project

$81,552

pledged of $50,000 goal

1,871

backers

THE MOVIE

TRENCHCOATS. CIGARETTES. REVOLVERS. FEMME FATALES.

Los Angeles, 1958: A detective holes up in a downtown hotel waiting for killers to come
and get him. As one long night turns to day he meets various characters with haunted
pasts of their own, and the truth is revealed of how he ended up in this predicament.

THE MOVIE IS FINISHED. And we are so goddamn proud of it. It's got AMAZING PERFORMANCES and cool-as-hell black and white cinematography and a fantastic analog, period-correct Jazz score, like something that might have been heard in a Jean Pierre Melville movie.

Carla Gugino is a film, Broadway and TV actress best known for her work in Spy Kids, Sin City, Watchmen, Sucker Punch and, most recently, USA's Political Animals. Last month she was voted the Number 1 Most Underrated Actress Alive in an Internet poll. Time for that to change.

Danny DeVito is one of the most beloved film and TV stars in the world. You may know him from Taxi, Batman Returns, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia or from movies he's directed (The War Of The Roses) or produced (Pulp Fiction, Out Of Sight, Get Shorty).

Rosario Dawson is a film actress, political activist and all-around cool person with a killer smile. She has been in Sin City, Men In Black 2, Deathproof, Eagle Eye and Kids.

Rufus Sewell is so much suaver than you, it's crazy. He's like a killer Shakesperian actor who hasn't actually done Shakespeare (that's how freakin' suave he is). You may know him from Dark City, The Illusionist and A Knight's Tale.

Malin Akerman is Swedish. And her character here is called Swedish Mary. (which of course is a reference to Burt Lancaster in The Killers). You may know her from Rock Of Ages, Couples Retreat or Watchmen, but you've never seen her like this.

Robert Forster is so cool, he's pretty much an institution of cool. Just watch Jackie Brown. Or his scene-stealing turn in The Descendants. Wait til you see him here, completely in his element.

Mandy Moore is an actress and singer who you've seen in A Walk To Remember, Saved! and Tangled. She is super polite but can also kick your ass. For real.

Kevin Connolly is best known for his role as Eric in HBO's Entourage but has been craftily stealing scenes for years. You may have seen him in He's Just Not That Into You, The Ugly Truth and Secretariat. He's also an accomplished director in his own right.

THE DISTRIBUTION MODEL

I'm interested in cracking the new code of indie distribution. Last year I made a feature length movie expressly for the internet with many of the same cast members, "GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR". It used a corporate sponsor for its release, and on its opening weekend was watched (in its entirety, not just as a playlist) by 250,000 YouTube users. It was a big success and yet, for a variety of reasons, the money still did not exactly trickle down to the people who made the movie. I want this to change. I WANT ARTISTS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE COMMERCIAL THINGS AND GET PAID FOR IT, without having to stand in the back of a convoluted back-end line built on Byzantine accounting.

The KICKSTARTER REVOLUTION is well underway and there is no reason it can't apply to movies with well known casts. This movie was done completely outside the studio system, in total DIY fashion, so why trust the corporate world to release it?

The fact is, these are STRANGE TIMES IN THE WORLD OF INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTION. Unless you are a lottery winner and get plucked by a Fox Searchlight from the thousands of competitors at Sundance, you are facing a quicksand landscape in which most of the revenue comes from VIDEO ON DEMAND. We have secured a promising VOD release and are now in the process of carving out DVD, iTunes, Netflix and TV sales, but also need to get a LIMITED THEATRICAL RUN in order to best promote the movie (in the press, talk shows, etc.) and qualify for POTENTIAL AWARDS and things like that.

This is where you come in.

We are looking for fans of NOIR. Crime picture enthusiasts who appreciate rapid fire dialogue, sexy dames and plot twists rendered in high contrast black and white. "HOTEL NOIR" is no throwback relic, it's A MOVIE FOR FILM-LOVERS who like their pulp married to existentialism. Who worship at the altars of Wilder, Tourneur, Siodmak, Ray and Melville (and if you don't know all these guys, think of all the cool movies you're about to immerse yourself in!)

You know who you are.

WE NEED YOU

We need to put the movie in a theater in New York and LA because ideally, we want this movie not just on VOD and digital platforms but ALSO on good old fashioned, popcorn-serving movie theaters. At the same time, we believe that a run in New York and LA -- while FANTASTIC -- could be the start of something bigger. An old-school grass roots movement to roll the movie out theatrically in other cities. (Make no mistake, it's not like we don't LOVE the superhero movies crowding every screen, it's just that it'd be cool to have other options too.)

This is Noir Calling. Come out, come out, wherever you are.

And, to quote the awesome Amanda Palmer, who knows what she's talking about: WE ARE THE MEDIA: as soon as you support this kickstarter, PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU'VE DONE IT, AND SPREAD THE LINK FAR AND WIDE.

thank you, thank you, thank you (and also: thank you).

FAQ

What will the KS-Backer DVD look like?

(both the DVD and SOUNDTRACK CD will be limited edition "kickstarter-backer" editions, never to be made again.)

And the Soundtrack CD?

If the movie's so good, why didn't a distributor buy it at a festival?

Because we didn't go to any festivals. We screened it in Cannes to sell some foreign territories and right away were enticed by a VOD deal that made sense.

Is Danny DeVito really funny in this or is it one of those indie movies where actors play against type and he's all like, tragically dour?

Very perceptive. A little bit of both. There is definitely humor in the story. But things get serious.

What do these new-fangled old school lobby cards look like, exactly?

Here's two:

Can I pledge for different tiers that offer different rewards?

You can pledge the cumulative amount for both rewards and then shoot us an email and we will make a note of it.

What is a "Chicago Overcoat" in Film Noir slang?

A coffin. Also known as a wooden kimono.

FAQ

Or if you had pledged $45 for the reward including CD, DVD and LOBBY CARD, you can now UPGRADE to BLU-RAY by adding $25. (That means this reward becomes $70 with Blu-Ray, with shipping included in the US, and with an additional $10 for Canda and $15 for international pledges).

Best value of all is if you pledged $150 or more, you now simply have your choice of either DVD or BLU-RAY. Make sure to specify this when the time comes.

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge $1 or more
About $1.00

{HOTEL NOIR SCREENPLAY PDF} every movie starts with a script, and if you want to read the script that attracted this great cast, all you have to do is pledge one measly dollar and we will email it to you. Sit back and peruse in the comfort of your own armchair, but make sure to wear a fedora while you read.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5 or more
About $5

{KICKSTARTER-ONLY LOBBY CARD} an old school film noir deserves an old school theater lobby card. For a puny $5 or more, get your very own limited edition lobby card. An instant collector's item. How can you live without it? It's not just for you, think of your children. (Go ahead, pick your favorite cast member and we'll send you a lobby card featuring that person).
Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount). Want the screenplay PDF as well? No problem. Say the word and we'll email it to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

{DOWNLOADABLE CHARACTER POSTERS} especially created for this Kickstarter campaign by artist Adam Juresko, there are 4 individual character posters you can choose from to download and blow up to 11x17. There's Felix (RUFUS SEWELL), Hanna Click (CARLA GUGINO), Swedish Mary (MALIN AKERMAN) and Sevilla (ROSARIO DAWSON.
You can see what these look like in the UPDATES section.
A great add-on for other rewards as well as a super cool present just in time for Christmas.
When the time comes, you must specify which character you want. You can also get the set of all 4 for $30.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $20 or more
About $20

{LIMITED EDITION KICKSTARTER BACKER DVD} Get your very own DVD copy of the film way before anybody else in the world. This is an exclusive collector's edition strictly for backers, it says so right on the cover. Once this run is printed, NO MORE OF THESE WILL BE MADE. (Sometime down the line there'll be a different, "official" DVD with different artwork, but not like this one).
Plus a SCREENPLAY PDF, because we love you.
Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $20 or more
About $20

{HOTEL NOIR HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD} BY POPULAR DEMAND! A digital download for all of you hi-tech cats and kittens (especially those in faraway countries with ridiculous customs fees). PLUS the SCREENPLAY PDF.
No shipping fees, bravo!
(In the higher tiers, wherever there's a DVD, specify if you would rather receive a digital download and, BAM, it's done.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $30 or more
About $30

{LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION KICKSTARTER BACKER DVD & HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD COMBO} some people like it both ways. They want the new technology AND the good old fashioned movie in a box. We get it. We don't want to deny you any pleasures. So you can have both. Plus a SCREENPLAY PDF, because, why not? Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

{LIMITED EDITION DVD, SOUNDTRACK CD, BACKER-ONLY SIGNED LOBBY CARD} a great film noir deserves a great analog jazzy score with drums/bass/piano/trumpet/sax and twangy guitar. Why, Serge Gainsbourg couldn't have done it better himself. Get the full package of "Hotel Noir" basics for way less than a tank of gas! But hurry, these are made-to-order for AWESOME PEOPLE ONLY. So if you don't order one, it will not get made. And then you will feel so guilty and that's bad.
Plus -- A LIMITED EDITION LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN AKERMAN AND CARLA GUGINO.
Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

LIMITED EDITION, ALL REGION KICKSTARTER BACKER BLU-RAY} honestly, the demand for this was overwhelming, so here it is. Watch HOTEL NOIR in all of its stunning black and white glory in crisp, state-of-the-art HD. Noir never looked this good. This is an exclusive collector's edition strictly for backers, it says so right on the cover. Once this run is printed, NO MORE OF THESE WILL BE MADE. (Sometime down the line there'll be a different, "official" BLU-RAY with different artwork, but not like this one). Plus a SCREENPLAY PDF, because we think the world of you. Includes shipping within the USA.
(Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).
Est. delivery: Dec 2012

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

{JUST LOBBY CARDS} people LOVE old-fashioned movie lobby cards, who knew? We have received so may requests for a FULL SET LOBBY CARDS ADD-ON that, well, here it is. There are TEN pristine, beautiful B&W cards in the set, highlighting all the different characters in the story. These are for KICKSTARTER MEMBERS ONLY.
You can pledge for the set as a stand-alone thing or ADD-ON to an existing pledge.
(And yes, these 10 are DIFFERENT than the one signed by Malin & Carla in the previous pledge, so the way to get all 11 is to combine both pledges)
(Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).
(IF adding to an existing pledge, no need to add shipping & handling twice, obviously).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

LIMITED EDITION, ALL REGION KICKSTARTER BACKER BLU-RAY & HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD COMBO} honestly, the demand for this was overwhelming, so here it is. Watch HOTEL NOIR in all of its stunning black and white glory in crisp, state-of-the-art HD. Noir never looked this good. This is an exclusive collector's edition strictly for backers, it says so right on the cover. Once this run is printed, NO MORE OF THESE WILL BE MADE. (Sometime down the line there'll be a different, "official" BLU-RAY with different artwork, but not like this one).
Also comes with an HD DOWNLOAD of the movie. Plus a SCREENPLAY PDF, because we think the world of you. Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount). Est. delivery: Dec 2012

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

{LIMITED EDITION DVD, SOUNDTRACK CD, BACKER-ONLY SIGNED LOBBY CARD, HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD} a great film noir deserves a great analog jazzy score with drums/bass/piano/trumpet/sax and twangy guitar. Why, Serge Gainsbourg couldn't have done it better himself. Get the full package of "Hotel Noir" basics for way less than a tank of gas! But hurry, these are made-to-order for AWESOME PEOPLE ONLY. So if you don't order one, it will not get made. And then you will feel so guilty and that's bad. Plus -- A LIMITED EDITION LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN AKERMAN AND CARLA GUGINO and your very own pristine HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the movie. Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $70 or more
About $70

{LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION BLU-RAY, SOUNDTRACK CD, BACKER-ONLY SIGNED LOBBY CARD, SCRIPT PDF} a great film noir deserves a great analog jazzy score with drums/bass/piano/trumpet/sax and twangy guitar. Why, Serge Gainsbourg couldn't have done it better himself. Get the full package of "Hotel Noir" basics for way less than a tank of gas! But hurry, these are made-to-order for AWESOME PEOPLE ONLY. So if you don't order one, it will not get made. And then you will feel so guilty and that's bad. Plus -- A LIMITED EDITION LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN AKERMAN AND CARLA GUGINO. Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).
(Yes indeed, this is the pretty much the same as the $45 reward upgrading to Blu-Ray for $25, and throwing in the script PDF)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $80 or more
About $80

{LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION BLU-RAY, HD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, SOUNDTRACK CD, BACKER-ONLY SIGNED LOBBY CARD, SCRIPT PDF} a great film noir deserves a great analog jazzy score with drums/bass/piano/trumpet/sax and twangy guitar. Why, Serge Gainsbourg couldn't have done it better himself. Get the full package of "Hotel Noir" basics for way less than a tank of gas! But hurry, these are made-to-order for AWESOME PEOPLE ONLY. So if you don't order one, it will not get made. And then you will feel so guilty and that's bad. Plus -- A LIMITED EDITION LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN AKERMAN AND CARLA GUGINO. Includes shipping within the USA. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount). (Yes indeed, this is the pretty much the same as the $45 reward upgrading to Blu-Ray for $25, but with the added DOWNLOAD and throwing in the script PDF)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

{HOTEL NOIR BASICS DELUXE} this includes the LIMITED EDITION DVD, CD, SET OF 10 COLLECTOR'S LOBBY CARDS, PLUS 1 ADDITIONAL LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN & CARLA and a SIGNED SCREENPLAY with a personal Thank You Message from Writer/Director Sebastian Gutierrez. Especially for you. Because that's who the movie is for.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

{HOTEL NOIR BASICS DELUXE BLU-RAY VERSION} this includes the LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION BLU-RAY, CD, SET OF 10 COLLECTOR'S LOBBY CARDS, PLUS 1 ADDITIONAL LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN & CARLA and a SIGNED SCREENPLAY with a personal Thank You Message from Writer/Director Sebastian Gutierrez. Especially for you. Because that's who the movie is for. (Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).
(Yes, this is EXACTLY the same as the previous package, simply upgrading to Blu-Ray at no additional cost, if Blu-Ray is your thing).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $185 or more
About $185

{HOTEL NOIR KITCHEN SINK PACKAGE} no, you don't get an actual kitchen sink, but you do get: the LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION BLU-RAY OR LIMITED EDITION ALL REGION DVD (select one), SOUNDTRACK CD, SET OF 4 DOWNLOADABLE CHARACTER POSTERS, HD DOWNLOAD, SET OF 10 COLLECTOR'S LOBBY CARDS, PLUS 1 ADDITIONAL LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN & CARLA and a SIGNED SCREENPLAY with a personal Thank You Message from Writer/Director Sebastian Gutierrez. Especially for you. Because we want you to have all this stuff.
(Shipping to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $750 or more
About $750

{RUFUS BIRTHDAY SONG} anybody who is a fan of Rufus Sewell knows he's secretly a world class crooner. If you choose this pledge, the inimitable serenader will record his rendition of "Happy Birthday" on your voicemail.
Optional: anybody who loves Rufus knows he does a masterful Russian accent, so think how mind-blowing your birthday message would sound with a RUSSIAN ACCENT? Everyone you know (plus a bunch of strangers) will be SO JEALOUS!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

{SKYPE SESSION} Twenty minute Skype session with Director Sebastian Gutierrez and Leading Lady Carla Gugino, who plays the sultry chanteuse "Hanna Click" in the movie. Perhaps even other cast members, depending on who we corral that day. Ask whatever you want to ask about filmmaking, acting, low budget productions, even where to find the greatest chocolate chip cookies in Manhattan (Carla is an expert) PLUS LIMITED EDITION DVD, CD, SET OF 10 COLLECTOR'S LOBBY CARDS, PLUS 1 ADDITIONAL LOBBY CARD SIGNED BY MALIN & CARLA and a SIGNED SCREENPLAY with a personal Thank You Message from Writer/Director Sebastian Gutierrez.
The goodies will be sent to you by Dec 2012, the Skype session scheduled sometime before March 1st, 2013.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

{HOTEL NOIR PREMIERE VIP PACKAGE} PARTY! Get flown to the OFFICIAL PREMIERE screening in Los Angeles, California, birthplace of Noir, be put up in a hotel for the night and driven by limo to the theater where you will meet and mingle with the cast. Plus everything else offered up to this point. Let's rephrase that: come hang out with CARLA GUGINO, DANNY DEVITO, ROSARIO DAWSON, MALIN AKERMAN, RUFUS SEWELL, MANDY MOORE, ROBERT FORSTER and KEVIN CONNOLLY (unless one of them is off shooting that night, of course). These are some of the greatest people in the Universe. Fact.
PLUS ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.

(Due to cost, the plane ticket is for US residents only. If you are coming from somewhere else, we'd still love to have you, put you up in a hotel and drive you to the premiere to party, but you have to fly yourself).

ALSO: The Premiere will most likely be in late September, early October. The rest of the swag will be sent by December 2012.